Wison Engineering and partners to commercialise synthetic gas-to-ethylene glycol technology

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Beijing - Wison Engineering Ltd. has signed a strategic cooperative agreement with Guizhou Xinxin Chemical Engineering Co. and Tianjin University to jointly promote the commercialization of their proprietary technology for the production of ethylene glycol (EG) from syngas, said Chemicals-Technology.

Under terms of the agreement, Tianjin University will provide the process design package (PDP) of syngas-to-EG technology, Wison will work on PDP conversion and offer engineering design and project management services, and Xinxin will invest in the construction of a demonstration plant for a yellow phosphorus tail gas-to-70,000-t/y oxalic acid and 10,000-t/y EG project.

Wison is responsible for the basic design, detailed design, procurement and construction management, and commissioning of the demonstration unit.

"We will strive to develop a cutting-edge syngas-to-EG technology with more feedstock alternatives and less power consumption, in order to provide optimal technology for future sets of industrial units, including Xinxin Group's 300,000-t/y coal-to-EG project," explained Ma Xinbin, dean of the Chemical Engineering School of Tianjin University.

The China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation had earlier demonstrated a one kilo tonne pilot plant, and identified that it supports production of polyester-grade ethylene glycol.

Based on this design, Wison Engineering and Tianjin University are working to develop a large-scale synthetic gas-to-ethylene glycol unit.

Wison Group is an engineering, procurement, and construction company, or EPC firm which focuses on the industries of energy and high-technology.] Wison also formed a consortium with Hyundai Engineering & construction Co. to sign a contract with PDVSA, Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, to expand PDVSA's Puerto la Cruz refinery.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Coca-Cola has introduced the world's first polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle made entirely from plants using Virent's BioFormPX paraxylene (PX), as per GV.

Coca-Cola and Virent have been working together since 2011 to develop and commercialize Virent's bio-based paraxylene technology for use in Coca-Cola's PlantBottle packaging.

Since 2009, Coca-Cola has distributed more than 35-billion bottles using its current version of PlantBottle packaging, made from up to 30% plant-based materials.

"The Coca-Cola Co. continues its innovative leadership commitment to sustainability and is a valued partner for Virent," said Virent Chief Executive Lee Edwards. "Their support of our plans for the BioFormPX material in the next generation of PlantBottle packaging is critical in attracting manufacturing investment from the PET supply chain," he added.

As MRC wrote before, in September 2014, Coca-Cola Company made an additional investment in the US-based Virent, which is developing its bio-based PX - BioFormPX. This investment will enable Virent to scale up separation and purification of BioFormPX material at their demonstration plant in Madison, Wisconsin.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SK Global Chemical Co. has announced plans to sell its Nexlene polyethylene (PE) solution technology business to Sabic SK Nexlene Co., its equally owned PE joint venture with Sabic Industrial Investments Co., as per GV.

With the sale, for which a closing date was not given, SK will retain a 50% stake in the Nexlene assets through the joint venture with Sabic.

Sabic SK Nexlene has a 230,000-t/y metallocene linear low-density PE plant in Ulsan, South Korea, which is expected to begin commercial production during the second half of this year.

The venture has said it plans to build a second plant based on the Nexlene technology in Saudi Arabia, and, over time, expects to establish production bases globally.

As MRC wrote before, Sabic has recently broadened its SABIC PCG portfolio for healthcare with the addition of a new LDPE grade to help the global IV packaging industry benefit from consistent and reliable supply.

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) ranks among the worldпїЅs top petrochemical companies. The company is among the worldпїЅs market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Germany-based Henkel has unveiled plans to build an adhesives plant at Kurkumbh, near Pune, in the Indian state of Maharashtra, with an investment of EUR30m, said Chemicals-technology.

With production planned to start by early 2017, the facility will be constructed in phases and will serve automotive, metal and industrial segments. It will be the tenth plant for Henkel in India. The first phase will have an operational area of around 20,000m, and is expected to produce 80,000t of adhesives and surface treatment products annually.

"This plant will enable us to localise our product portfolio and reduce imports, while bringing the best global technology to India." Henkel Group India president Jeremy Hunter said: "This plant will enable us to localise our product portfolio and reduce imports, while bringing the best global technology to India.

"Considering the proximity of the plant to our customers, it will also help us to work closely with them in developing solutions. We are aiming to win a greater market share in India, which is one of the biggest emerging markets for us."

The project is in line with the company's plan to strengthen its presence in the emerging markets. With this investment, Henkel aims to obtain a 40% share in the adhesives segment in India.

The Kurkumbh facility will be designed in compliance with LEED standards set by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), and will implement the highest safety, health and environment standards.

Business Standard cited Hunter as saying that the company intends to double its revenue in India in the next five years.

By the end of 2016, Henkel expects to record net sales of EUR10bn in markets where it already has strong presence.

As MRC informed earlier, in April 2015, Henkel said it plans to acquire Novamelt, a privately owned company based at Wehr in southern Germany, to further enhance its competence in the area of hotmelt adhesives

Henkel operates in three business units, including laundry and home care, beauty care and adhesive technologies.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- GS Engineering & Construction has notified the Korea Stock Exchange that it has withdrawn from a USD 1.4-billion contract to build a polyethylene (PE) plant in Kazakhstan, reported GV with reference to an industry source.

In 2013, a consortium of GS, Petrofac and Linde received a contract from Kazakhstan LG Polyethylene LLP (KLPE) for a PE plant comprised of two 400,000-t/y lines. The project is part of KLPE’s integrated petrochemicals complex and infrastructure project in the Tengiz and Karabatan regions of Kazakhstan.

GS attributed its decision to cancel the contract to a disagreement on the cost of construction for the project.

KLPE is an equally-owned joint venture of Kazakhstan Petrochemical Industries and LG Chem.

GS Engineering & Construction (GS E&C) is aiming to take a larger piece of the global construction pie. Founded in 1969, the company provides engineering and construction services to a variety of industries around the world. GS E&C's civil division builds roads, bridges, railroads, underground subways, and harbors. Its plant division undertakes work on oil and gas and petrochemical facilities. Projects include sewage system maintenance and wastewater treatment and commissioning of nuclear power plants. GS E&C also builds housing across Korea and in Vietnam. In addition to offices in South Korea, the firm has offices in China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Italy, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
MRC